Habsburg Spain means the history of Spain over the 16th and 17th centuries (1506–1700). This was when Spain was ruled by the major branch of the Habsburg dynasty. Under Habsburg rule (mostly under Charles I and Philip II), Spain reached the height of its influence and power. The Hapsburgs had land including the Americas; the East Indies in Asia; the Low Countries, territories now in France and Germany in Europe. From 1580 to 1640 they had the Portuguese Empire; and various other lands such as small enclaves like Ceuta and Oran in North Africa. Habsburg Spain was, for well over a century, the world's greatest power. For this reason, this period of Spanish history has also been called the "Age of Expansion."
1516–1700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital | Madrid (1561–1601; 1606–1700) Valladolid (1601–06) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Religion | Roman Catholic Church | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Demonym(s) | Spanish, Portuguese | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Government | Composite monarchy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
House of Habsburg | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1516–1556 (first) | Charles I | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• 1665–1700 (last) | Charles II | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Legislature | Cortes of Castile Courts of Aragon Catalan Courts Corts Valencianes Cortes of Navarre Cortes of Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Historical era | Early Modern period | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• Accession of Philip I of Castile | 26 November 1504 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
• | 23 January 1516 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1568–1648 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1580–1640 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1635–1659 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1640–1668 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
• | 1 November 1700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1701–1714 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Currency | Spanish real | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Today part of | Spain, Portugal |